About the song
Few artists embody the spirit of American music quite like Willie Nelson. A storyteller, a troubadour, and a voice as instantly recognizable as the scent of whiskey on a honky-tonk floor, Nelson has spent decades weaving melodies that feel both timeless and deeply personal. Among the many gems in his vast catalog, Funny How Time Slips Away stands as one of his most enduring compositions—a song that captures the quiet ache of lost love with an effortless grace that only a master songwriter could achieve.
Originally penned in 1961, Funny How Time Slips Away first found its way into the world not through Nelson’s own voice but through the velvet croon of Billy Walker, a country singer with a smooth delivery. In those early days, Nelson was still a young songwriter struggling to make his mark in Nashville, selling his compositions to better-established performers. But even then, his gift was undeniable. The song quickly became a favorite among country and pop artists alike, covered by everyone from Elvis Presley to Al Green, each version offering a slightly different emotional shade to Nelson’s poignant words.
At its core, Funny How Time Slips Away is a song about reunion, regret, and the strange, inevitable passage of time. It’s a conversation between former lovers, one of whom has clearly moved on while the other lingers in the shadow of what once was. The lyrics unfold with a deceptive casualness—“Well, hello there, my, it’s been a long, long time”—but beneath the surface, there’s a quiet heartbreak, a knowing sadness that creeps in as the conversation continues. By the time we reach the closing lines—“But remember what I tell you / That in time, you’re gonna pay”—the song’s gentle melancholy shifts into something sharper, a subtle but unmistakable warning that time has a way of evening the score.
Nelson’s own recording of the song wouldn’t come until later, appearing on his 1962 album …And Then I Wrote, a collection of songs that had already become hits for other artists. His version strips away the polish of earlier interpretations, replacing it with something rawer, more intimate. Nelson’s unmistakable phrasing—slightly behind the beat, conversational yet deeply expressive—gives the song a different weight. In his hands, it becomes less of a lament and more of a resigned observation, the kind of wisdom that can only come from someone who has lived through the heartache they’re singing about.
Over the years, Funny How Time Slips Away has continued to resonate with listeners across generations. It’s a song that captures something universal—the way time has a habit of moving forward, indifferent to our feelings, our hopes, our regrets. Whether it’s delivered with the soulfulness of Al Green, the rock ‘n’ roll swagger of Elvis, or the quiet resignation of Willie himself, the song remains a masterclass in understated storytelling.
For Nelson, this was just one of many brilliant compositions to come, but even in its simplicity, it holds a kind of magic. It’s a reminder of his greatest gift—not just as a songwriter, but as a storyteller who can distill life’s most complicated emotions into a few perfect lines. And funny, isn’t it, how a song written over six decades ago can still feel as fresh and true as the day it was born?
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Lyrics
Well hello there gee it’s been a long long time
How am I doin’ oh I guess that I’m doin’ fine
It’s been so long now and it seems like it was only yesterday
Ain’t it funny how time slips away
How’s your new love I hope that she’s doin’ fine
Heard you told her that you’d love her till the end of time
Now that’s the same thing that you told me seems like just the other day
Ain’t it funny how time slips away
I gotta go now but I’ll be seein’ you around
Don’t know when though never know when I’ll be back in town
But remember what I told you that someday you’re gonna pay
And it’s surprising how time slips away
